Electrical connector



June 17, 1941. V. F. JOHNSON ELECTRICALCONNEGTOR Filed Nov. 5, 1958(Ittorneg Patented June 17, 1941 UNETED STATES PAT ENT DFFHCEELECTRICAL, CONNECTOR Virgil'F. Johnson, Davenport, Iowa applicationNovember 5, 1938, serial No. 228,944

g 4 Claims. "(Cl. 173-343) V The present invention relates to electricalconnectors of the locking type, particularly for the household applianceand the industrial classes of service. While there are many knownvarieties of locking connectors, they are ingeneral all subject to thedisadvantage that, while the two parts may be used together, the twoindividual parts are not separately useful with an analogouscomplemental part of standard construction. Thus, for instance,if-atoaster were provided with a pronged connector and a" threadedfemale plug of special construction to interlock, the housewife wouidnot be able to plug in the pronged connector in a standard constructionoutlet. Also, if an outlet were provided with special lockingconstruction it would not be adaptable to use for plugging in standardpronged connectors. 1

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide anelectrical connector of the locking type, either portion of which isadaptable for use with an analogous complemental part of standardconstruction. Further objects of this invention are toprovide'individual electrical connector parts adapted tofunctionproperly with standard parts or to lock with the other of saidparts.

. For-a more complete understanding of the present invention, referencemay be had to the following description taken in conjunctionwith theaccompanying drawing which shows'illustrative embodiments of thisinvention and in which:

Fig. l is an elevation of my improved electrical connector partsassembled in locked position with a portion of the base of the aperturedpart broken away to show the cooperating contact members. In thisfigure, the'invention is shown applied to an apertured connector part ofthe threaded variety.

Fig. 2 is a section of a slight modification of the apertured connectorshown in Fig. 1 substantially on the line 22 in Fig. 3.

- Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan of the connector part shown in Fig. 2. 3

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the pronged connector part shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a plan of the connector part shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a section substantially on the line '|-'l in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of an apertured connector part in accordance withthis invention with a standard rigid pronged connector inserted thereinwith a portion of the base of the apertured part broken away to show themanner of cooperation of the parts.

' --.Fig. 10 is an elevation of a double outlet connector in accordancewith this inventionfor use in an outlet box.

vFig. 1 1 is a section substantially on the line lI.--ll in Fig. 10.

\ Fig. 12 is an elevation showing a preferred form of hook contactmember.

- In accordance with this invention, a pronged connector part 2 isprovided with a pair of prongs. The base portion 4 of connector 2 isformed of a relatively easily flexible material, such as a flexiblerubber or the like. An opening 5 passes longitudinally through the baseportion 4 in accordance with common custom. A recess 6 is. formed in thepronged end of the base portion 4, in which recess the prongs 3 aresecured. Each prong is provided with a wire terminal arm I and with anarm 8 extending intothe base portion away from the pronged end and ingeneral radial alignment with the prong connected therewith..'A pair ofdiametrically opposed notches 9 may be formed in the base portion 4,radially located at an angle with respect to the prongs whereby movementof the prongs together by deformation of the base is facilitated. Inorder more readily to determine the proper direction of fiexure of thebase for movement of the prongs, the base may be provided with bosses IDin general radial alignment with the prongs.

' Pressing against the base portion .near the pronged end thereof and ingeneral radial alignment with the prongs causes the outer ends of theprongs to move together. While some of this movement may be due to theprongs moving bodily together, a major portion is due to the prongspivoting about the embedded arms 8.

The apertured connector part Iicomprises a. base I2 formed of arelatively rigid insulatin material which has thereabout, adjacent oneend, a threaded ferrule M. A pair of apertures I5 are formed in theopposite end and open into a pair of contact chambers in the base. Apartition wall I6 extends from end to end of the base l2 and serves todefine one wall of each of the chambers. A'plate l1, circular in form,is secured to the threaded end of the member and closes thatend of thecontact chambers, the

platen being formed of insulating material and being secured to the baseby headed members I8 which extend through a conducting plate I!)provided with a contact boss 20.

A pair of contact members 2|, 22 extend from contact chamber I3 throughthe plate I! and into contact with the conducting plate IS, the contact2| extending from the aperture in plate [1 to the outer wall of thechamber, thence along the wall of the chamber to a position adjacentaperture l5, then being reourved upon itself and extending therefromtoward the threaded end of the connecting member. The reourved contactarm 23 is spaced from'the remainder of member 2| so that under pressureit may move outwardly against the spring-pressure of the member. Thecontact member 22 extends along the-partition wall I6 to a pointadjacent the aperture l and is there reourved, extending therefromtoward the threaded end, the reourved end of this contact being normallyin engagement with arm 23 and spaced from the body of member 22. Anabutment is provided in the chamber to'limit the inward movement of theend portion 23 of contact 2|. This abutment may be inany suitable form,such as the shoulder 24, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in which the portionof the chamber occupied by contact 2| is wider than the remainder of thechamber, or it may be in the.

form of a pin 25, as shown in Fig. 1,: which engages portion 23 andprevents undue inward movement thereof. The contact arm. 23 is formedwith a hook 26 near its inner end with the outer face of the hookinclined so that the end of one of the prongs'3 will ride up'the hookand with the inner face of the hook abrupt so that, when the opening 21in prong 3 engages over the hook, the prong will not normally pull offof the hook. A book of this character may be formed by making a pair ofcuts in the contact arm 23 converging away from. the end of the arm. Thetongue between the cuts is bent to form an outer inclined face 33connected along its outer edge to the contact arm and an abrupt stop 34in a position substantially perpendicular to the arm 23. This stop isbent and swaged into position where it holds tightly, due to the tonguebeing wider at the portion of the stop in contact with the sides ofthenotch than the original width of the notch. It is obvious that the endsof arm 23, beside the notch in which the hook is formed, may beconnected with the same advantages of preventing the hook from beingpulled out of shape, due to the end being swaged into place. While ahook formed as described is preferable, as it is very strong,'it beingalmost impossible to deform the hook by pulling on the pronged member,my invention also includes connectors in which the hook is formedotherwise.

The spring 22 is normally in contact with the hook 26. The contacts maybe made of spring material with either one stronger than the other, butin case contact 22 is the stronger, the normal position thereof shouldbe as shown in Fig. 2 so that it will allow contact 2| to rest on theabutment. In any event, the contact 22 and the corresponding contact22', hereinafter described, should be sufiiciently readily flexible toallow manual flexure of the pronged connector 2 enough to remove theprongs from the hooks.

In the remaining contact chamber, a pair of contacts 2|, 22' areprovided which are identical in all respects with the contacts 2|, 22except that their ends, at the threaded endof the concontact 2| restingon shoulders at the end of the body portion l2.

When the pronged member 2 is inserted in the apertured member II, theprongs pass into the apertures [5. Depending upon the relative strengthsof the four contact members and. of the base 4, the prongs move togetheror the hooks move apart or else both move suificiently to allow theopenings 21 to engage over hooks 2B. To separate the connector elements,pressure is exerted on the bosses I0, forcing the ends of the prongstogether against the action of contacts 22, 22', which, together withpartition IB, center the prongs between the hooks so that neither prongremains in engagement.

If a standard rigid type of pronged connector 28 is inserted in themember I due to the relative rigidity of the prongs, the contact arms23, 23' aresprung outwardly, as shown in Fig. 9. The contacts 2 I, 2|may be so proportioned that none of the standard pronged connectingmembers, some of which have openings therein, will have their openingsin position to register with thehooks 26.

If the pronged connector is inserted in standard type of aperturedmember similar to member 1 I, it functions the same as the standardpronged member.

As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the present invention is-applicable tooutlets for use in standard outlet boxes. Thus, a pair of aperturedconnectors may be mounted on a bar 29 which has openings 33 at its endsfor attachment in a box. Each apertured connector is provided withcontact chambers and with contacts, as above described, in connectionwith Figs. 1 and 2. Each pair of contacts, at its right end, as seen inFig. 11, contacts a conducting bar 3|, both of which are covered with aninsulating member 32. The power lead wires may be attached to terminals(not shown) on the bars and thereby conduct current through the bars tothe;contacts in both of the connectors.

As with the apertured connectors shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the'aperturedconnector of Figs.

10 and 11 may be employed either with a pronged connector 2, as shown inFig. 7, or with a standard rigid connector 28, such as shown in Fig. ,9.

It should be understood that while I have disclosed specific embodimentsof my invention, considerable modification may be made therein withinthe scope of the invention. Accordingly, this invention is limited notby the above description but only by the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. An electrical connecting member comprising a substantially rigid basehaving a pair of apertures therein and a pair of contact chamberscommunicating therewith, contacts in said chambers, the contact in atleast one of said chambers comprising an arm having a hook inclined inthe.

arms to govern the normal distance of saidarms from said other chamber.

2. An electrical connecting member comprising a substantially rigid basehaving a pair of apertures therein and a pair of contact chamberscommunicating therewith, contacts in said chambers, the contact in atleast one of said chambers being a locking contact and comprising an armhaving a hook directed toward the other of said contacts, said arm beingpressed in the direction of said other contact, said locking contactalso comprising a second arm spring-pressed away from said othercontact, the first mentioned arm being movable away from and the secondarm being movable toward said other contact whereby, when a rigidpronged connector is inserted in said chambers, said first arm movesaway from said other contact and whereby, when a flexible prongedcontact is inserted therein, said second arm moves toward said othercontact and a stop positioned normally to limit movement of said firstarm toward said other contact.

3. An electrical connecting member comprising a substantially rigid basehaving a pair of apertures therein and a pair of contact chamberscommunicating therewith, contacts in said chambers, the contact in atleast one of said chambers comprising an arm having a hook formedtherein, said hook being formed of a tongue integral with said contactand with the edges of said tongue converging toward the apertures, saidcontact having an opening therein of the same shape as moved, the hookbeing inclined from the point of attachment to said contact inwardly ofsaid base and from said arm, thence abruptly outwardly of said base andinto the opening from which said tongue was removed, whereby the end ofthe tongue is frictionally held by the remainder of the contact.

- 4. An electrical connector of the apertured type comprising a basemember having therein a pair of apertures and a pair of contact chambersindividually communicating with said apertures, a hooked contact in eachchamber, the hook on each contact extending toward the other of saidcontacts, said hooks being spring-pressed together, abutments in saidchambers limiting the movement of said contacts together, said chambersproviding room for flexibly connected contact members when inserted insaid apertures to be moved together by said hooks, said contacts beingmovable apart from positions against said abutments -to allow theinsertion of rigid connected contact members insulated from each other,and means enabling the position of a pair of flexibly connected contactmembers out of engagement with either of said hooks when pressedtogether.

VIRGIL F. JOHNSON.

